Developers are responding to the demand for office space in American suburbs, which is rebounding after many years of lagging behind urban areas. According to CoStar Group, suburban office space will grow at 1% this year, the most progression seen in the past six years. The transition from downtown space to suburban areas is a result of overcrowding. Downtown areas are more expensive and harder to find. On the other hand, the suburbs contain more vacancies, while tenants are able to rent or buy for a discounted price. Developers are building in areas where the climate for suburban business is improving, particularly suburbs in Dallas, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Boston.

A $65 million project in a Keystone, Indiana suburb is a prime example of the movement to the suburbs. The development will be called River North at Keystone, and will provide an office building as well as luxury apartments. This upper-middle class suburb is located across the street from Fashion Mall at Keystone, making the area comparable to a downtown region. But some argue that it will be even more appealing than downtown Indiana, with a one-mile trail that will loop around the surrounding lake, and sidewalks to connect all properties in the area. River North will profit from benefits similar to the live, work, play lifestyle of other cities.

Of course, the supply of offices will take time to catch up to the bustling tenant demands. When dealing with high cost projects such as River North at Keystone, developers must take the transition to an active suburb one step at a time. According to Geoffrey Booth, a professor of urban planning at Texas A&M University, transforming a single-purpose suburban office into a city-like hub is more than just building things. “Just as when you’re cooking dinner, you don’t just put in all the ingredients at the same time. You add in pieces at different times.”

Virginia is a graduate from the University of Florida's College of Design Construction and Planning with a degree in Sustainability and the Built Environment, and a minor in Urban Regional Planning. Virginia joined the Front Street team in 2011, as an intern. Upon graduation, Virginia joined the Front Street team full-time as the Director of Client Services. Ms. MacKoul’s addition furthers Front Street’s continued growth and expansion within Gainesville and other North Central Florida markets. She was promoted to Director of Marketing in 2014 and now manages the firm’s team of interns and oversees all marketing and branding activity. Virginia was born in Boston and moved to Lee County, Florida in 1997. Virginia graduated her high school's International Baccalaureate program and started at the University of Florida with a focus on Architecture. Virginia shares Front Street's passion of giving back to the community and those in need. Virginia's hobbies include photography, cooking, football, movies, music, and spending time with her dog, Brinkley.

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August is already here! We're pleased to share all that this year has brought. We wanted to take a moment to reflect on all you've helped us accomplish this year. This month also marks 15 years for Front Street Commercial Real Estate Group. Thanks so much to all of our clients, friends, family, and fans for all of the support over the years. We couldn't have done it without you! Here's to 15 more years and many more! Here's a few of our announcements, featured listings, most recent closings, top news stories for the month, and upcoming events!

Seeing all the growth, development, and new concepts arising in Tallahassee can provide endless opportunities for small businesses and large businesses alike. How will your company adapt and expand within the rapid growth and changes in the market? Front Street is here to help you with all of your commercial real estate needs. Our mission is to impact our community, clients, and industry by doing commercial real estate differently.

Here at Front Street, we consistently strive to bring new restaurants and new-to-market concepts into the areas we do business. Whether it is finding a location for a new business, or finding another location for a growing business, we always work to provide the best quality service to our clients!